Just a Few Things About Cover Letters

Steven Graber specifically states on page 309, "The idea of the cover letter is not to repeat what's in the resume. The idea is to give an overview if your capabilities." The cover letter is another way to advertise any abilities. I have never used a cover letter until recently. It's hard to boil yourself down to just one page, but the cover letter adds another way to show a potential employer what you're like and what you can do.

On page 312 in the section titled "Proof with Care" the very last line states, "If you find mistakes, do not fix them with pen, pencil, or white out! Make the changes on the computer and print out the letter with care." I have found that some people in business try to take the easy way out. You have to beg them to change it on the computer and reprint it. Employers appreciate professional documents that are created with care. They do not want to hire someone who will take the easy way out. There's enough of that surrounding them already.

Although I haven't witnessed it yet, the best way to get a job is to tailor all correspondence to each job application. Showing that the position is understood and that you have the specific qualifications for which the company is asking is the best way to get the resume noticed by the hiring manager. I've started thinking of it as an interview before the interview. They look at the cover letter and resume and most likely do a mental checklist. If you pass you get an interview; if you fail to answer all the questions well then you fail and get passed over.